AMERICAN GROUSE. 183 



required before they can be induced to take wing. 

 Their pursuit is followed in the same manner as that 

 of red grouse upon Scotch moors, for their time of 

 watering, dusting, and feeding, are almost identical. 

 At the commencement of the shooting season (which 

 I believe is now on the 1st of September), No. 7 shot 

 will be found heavy enough to do effective work, but 

 later on, when cold nights, accompanied by rain and 

 wind, have taken place, No. 5 should be used. 



The first pheasant I killed in China I thought the 

 noblest game bird that ever I had pulled a trigger 

 upon, and truly he was a beauty ; the plumage was in 

 the most perfect state the neck of the greenest 

 emerald, the ring of the purest white, the tail the 

 longest, and the different shades and tints of wings 

 .and body the very brightest I had ever seen in one of 

 the species ; moreover, he weighed nearly one-half 

 more than any of the same family I had killed at 

 home, and to add additional appreciation, the shot that 

 brought him to the ground was a difficult one, and at 

 long range. For years the pheasant of the southern 

 portion of China reigned paramount in my opinion ; 

 but a change has come over my ideas, and now, super- 

 lative before all others, I place two descriptions of 

 American game birds, and this species is one of them. 

 What days of pleasure have I had in the pursuit of 

 pinnated grouse ! What splendid bags have I made, 

 and on such ground as gave my darling companion 

 setters the very best opportunities of showing their 

 sagacity and careful education to the greatest advan- 

 tage. In alluding to the ruffled grouse, I have stated 

 that I do not believe this bird (the pinnated grouse) 

 so worthy of acclimatisation ; and why ? he disregards 



